UN's Ban Ki-moon calls for Gaza ceasefire

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon has called for an immediate ceasefire as Israel's offensive on Gaza enters its sixth day.

Ban also announced on Monday he was going to Cairo to join talks about a possible truce.

Sunday was the deadliest day of Operation Pillar of Defence as Israel targeted the homes of Hamas militants.

Eighty-six Palestinians and three Israelis have been killed in six days as Israel pounds Gaza from the sea and air while Hamas militants fire rockets.

Israel's army said it had targeted some 80 sites overnight, including militant-owned buildings, weapons storage facilities and police stations. According to Palestinian sources, 18 people were killed in the raids.

Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi has stated that an Israeli ground invasion would have "serious repercussions", saying Egypt would never accept it "and neither will the free world".

The Arab League, which met in emergency session in Cairo on Sunday, is to send a delegation of foreign ministers to Gaza on Tuesday.